Improving the health and nutrition of a community often comes down to one thing – communication. Village Square champions those with the most effective megaphones, but also showcases new or quirky trends in food and healthy living.
Health & Wellbeing
Marital blessing helps women understand reproductive system
The traditional phulo-phalo blessing that every newly married couple receives seems a materialistic blessing. With a deeper meaning about fertility, it helps women understand reproductive health
Eco-friendly sanitation wins proponent civilian award
Subburaman, who is credited with constructing India’s first community eco-san toilet, besides successfully installing various eco-friendly sanitation solutions, gets recognized with a Padma Shri
How climate-induced changes affect children more
With extreme weather events affecting villagers, children miss education, are more susceptible to malnutrition and diseases, and are forced to take up labor work
Rural women are unaware of the risk of breast cancer
Due to lack of information about breast cancer, misconceptions, shame and social stigma, women in villages risk their life by not getting screened and treated
Women continue to roll beedis despite low wages, health risks
Due to lack of education and alternate sustainable employment avenues, millions of workers, especially women, endure beedi rolling. Familiarity and fear prevent them from switching jobs
Farming proves therapeutic to the intellectually challenged
Varied activities in the residential farm helps those with intellectual disabilities calm down and learn many social and life skills, besides offering a livelihood
Transgenders fight blind beliefs about motherhood and childcare
Creating awareness through street plays and one-to-one counseling, trained transgender women leverage cultural practices to educate tribal women with poor health indicators, the importance of seeking health care
Women grassroots health workers take to cycling for better reach
Accredited social health activists, who were dependent on the men in their family to commute or walked many miles every day, have become punctual and efficient after learning to cycle
Treatment and awareness help women overcome anemia
Extensive testing, treating the affected, and awareness about food habits to change malnutrition status have brought down the prevalence of anemia and improved the health of women